BUTLER INSTITUTE Ballet will depict Chen Chi's work

The dancers' costumes will match the colors in a painting.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- Ballet Western Reserve, under artistic director Anita Lin, will once again present its popular "Evening of Dance at The Butler."
The event is March 3 and 4 at the Butler Institute of American Art. This year, all of the dances will depict paintings by Chinese-American artist Chen Chi. When the event was first planned, he was to be an honored guest, but he has since died at age 94.
"I love Chen Chi's work," said Lin. "The Butler had a large gallery of his works upstairs as a tribute to him when we performed there last year. I loved the splendor of his watercolors. And his paintings are unusual sizes and shapes. Some are very large, and others are very tall and skinny, which speak to the movement of his subjects. And many of these painting were gifts to the Butler from the artist himself."
Lin said she and the other BWR choreographers spent time viewing the collection. "Each one of us became attached to a different painting," she said. This attachment became the inspiration for the upcoming program, which will include the usual variety of dance styles, with the costumes matching the colors and mood of the paintings.
There will be four ballet pieces on the program, and Lin has choreographed two of them.
She has chosen a painting called "Pink and Yellow Flowers," with music by John Williams from the movie "Seven Years in Tibet."
Emotional show
"There is an Asian flavor to the music," said Lin. "I really wanted to use Asian influence. This piece, called 'Quiet Moments,' begins softly, like flowers just starting to open, then moves to full bloom. Choreographing this piece was challenging at first, but the painting and music assisted the movements." Lin said when she finally watched the dancers perform it, the beauty moved her to tears.
The other painting brought to life through Lin's choreography is called "Early Morning, Red Sun Rising East." She has chosen music by Tan Dun, called "The East," which was composed in celebration of the new millennium. The painting is mostly in hues of white, with white doves flying, and a subtle rising sun. Lin said she focused on the movement of the painting to create her work, including the flight of birds, following the sun for warmth. "The music is very Asian," she added. "It starts slow, like the sun rising. I also used lots of Asian-type movements for this piece."
Choreography
Guest choreographer William Gentes has choreographed the painting "Wave and Tide." African drumming music by James Asher, called "Janjara," will accompany the dancers. Gentes and Lin met at Chatauqua, and he directed summer workshops at BWR in 2004 and 2005.
"This painting is very long, horizontally," said Lin. "The bottom is the shore, and you can just see water breaking into the painting. Gentes' movement is very abstract -- contemporary ballet. He was influenced by George Balanchine, and was a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. This piece is pretty cool -- a really different touch. And he is so dedicated. He drove in every Sunday from New York while he was working with the girls."
Other works of Chen Chi to be featured in the program include "Sun" (Modern), "Moon" (Irish Step), "Man Walking" (Tap), and "Fish and Water" danced by the younger apprentice company.
Many of these paintings are on display now at the Butler, downstairs near the marble staircase.